Liquid dispensing module

Abstract

A dispensing module includes a needle and an actuator housing defining an actuator cavity with an actuator disposed therein, a body cavity, and a needle passageway connecting the actuator cavity and the body cavity. A lower end of the needle defines a valve element, and an upper end of the needle is secured to the actuator. The dispensing module also includes a nozzle adapter releasably coupled to the actuator housing, where the nozzle adapter defines a seal seat, a fluid inlet, a fluid channel, and a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the fluid inlet and the fluid channel. The nozzle adapter is configured to be releasably coupled to the actuator housing using one or more fasteners, such that the needle extends into the fluid channel.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A dispensing module for dispensing a liquid, the dispensing module comprising:
 an actuator housing defining an actuator cavity, a body cavity, and a needle passageway connecting the actuator cavity and the body cavity; 
 an actuator disposed within the actuator cavity; 
 a needle defining an upper end and a lower end opposite the upper end in a longitudinal direction, the lower end defining a valve element, wherein the upper end of the needle is secured to the actuator such that the needle extends from the actuator cavity through the needle passageway; 
 a nozzle adapter releasably coupled to the actuator housing, the nozzle adapter defining a nozzle body including an upper surface, a seal seat extending into the nozzle body from the upper surface, a recess configured to receive a flexible seal, the recess extending into the nozzle body from the upper surface and encircling the seal seat, a fluid inlet, a fluid channel partially defined by a valve seat, and a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the fluid inlet and the fluid channel, the fluid channel extending from the seal seat to the fluid outlet, wherein the nozzle adapter is configured to be at least partially disposed within the body cavity when coupled to the actuator housing, such that the lower end of the needle extends into the fluid channel, and wherein the recess and the seal seat define respective upper openings at the upper surface that are aligned along a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction; and 
 at least one seal configured to be received within the seal seat, wherein the at least one seal is configured to prevent flow of the liquid from the fluid channel of the nozzle adapter into the needle passageway of the actuator housing. 
 
     
     
       2. The dispensing module of  claim 1 , wherein the body cavity is defined by a top surface, a first transverse inner surface, a second transverse inner surface opposite the first transverse inner surface along a transverse direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, a first lateral inner surface, and a second lateral inner surface opposite the first lateral inner surface along a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the transverse direction. 
     
     
       3. The dispensing module of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one seal includes a first seal and a second seal. 
     
     
       4. The dispensing module of  claim 3 , wherein the first seal is stacked on top of the second seal to collectively define top and bottom surfaces, the top surface of the first seal is configured to contact the top surface of the body cavity, and the bottom surface of the second seal at least partially defines the fluid channel when the first and second seals are received within the seal seat. 
     
     
       5. The dispensing module of  claim 4 , wherein the first seal and the second seal define respective outer diameters measured at the bottom surface of the seal along the direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and the fluid channel defines a maximum diameter measured along the direction, wherein the maximum diameter of the fluid channel is less than the outer diameter of the first seal and the outer diameter of the second seal. 
     
     
       6. The dispensing module of  claim 5 , wherein the outer diameter of the first seal and the outer diameter of the second seal are substantially equal. 
     
     
       7. The dispensing module of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second seals each define respective needle passageways configured to receive a portion of the needle. 
     
     
       8. The dispensing module of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid channel defines a sidewall that extends longitudinally from the seal seat to the valve seat. 
     
     
       9. The dispensing module of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid outlet defines a diameter along the direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and the fluid channel defines a maximum diameter measured along the direction, wherein the diameter of the fluid outlet is less than the maximum diameter of the fluid channel. 
     
     
       10. The dispensing module of  claim 1 , wherein the valve element is a ball valve element. 
     
     
       11. The dispensing module of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid channel defines a volume that is about 0.1 cubic inches. 
     
     
       12. The dispensing module of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a pneumatic actuator configured to be in communication with a pressurized air source. 
     
     
       13. The dispensing module of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is configured to transition the needle from a first position, where the valve element contacts the valve seat such that the valve element prevents fluid flow through the fluid outlet, to a second position, where the valve element is spaced from the valve seat. 
     
     
       14. The dispensing module of  claim 13 , wherein the liquid is under internal pressure in the fluid channel as the liquid flows from the fluid inlet of the nozzle adapter to the fluid channel, such that the liquid flows through the fluid outlet of the nozzle adapter when the needle is in the second position. 
     
     
       15. The dispensing module of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle body includes a lower surface opposite the upper surface in the longitudinal direction and a protrusion extending from the nozzle body in a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction at a location between the upper surface and the lower surface along the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
       16. The dispensing module of  claim 15 , wherein the flexible seal is an O-ring. 
     
     
       17. The dispensing module of  claim 15 , wherein the actuator housing further defines a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface in the longitudinal direction, the bottom surface defining a first aperture configured to receive a fastener, and the protrusion defines a second aperture configured to receive the fastener, such that the fastener is configured to extend through the first aperture and the second aperture such that the fastener releasably secures the nozzle adapter to the actuator housing. 
     
     
       18. The dispensing module of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid inlet defines an opening at the fluid channel, the opening being between the seal seat and the fluid outlet along the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
       19. A dispensing module for dispensing a liquid, the dispensing module comprising:
 an actuator housing defining a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface in a longitudinal direction, the bottom surface defining a first aperture configured to receive a fastener, the actuator housing further defining an actuator cavity, a body cavity, and a needle passageway connecting the actuator cavity and the body cavity; 
 an actuator disposed within the actuator cavity; 
 a needle defining an upper end and a lower end opposite the upper end in the longitudinal direction, the lower end defining a valve element, wherein the upper end of the needle is secured to the actuator such that the needle extends from the actuator cavity through the needle passageway; and 
 a nozzle adapter defining a nozzle body that includes an upper surface, a lower surface opposite the upper surface in the longitudinal direction, and a protrusion extending from the nozzle body in a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction at a location between the upper surface and the lower surface along the longitudinal direction, the protrusion defining a second aperture configured to receive the fastener, the nozzle adapter further defining a seal seat extending into the nozzle body from the upper surface, a recess configured to receive a flexible seal, the recess extending into the nozzle body from the upper surface and encircling the seal seat, a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a fluid channel extending from the seal seat to the fluid outlet, and wherein the recess and the seal seat define respective upper openings at the upper surface that are aligned along the lateral direction, 
 wherein the fluid channel is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, the fluid channel being partially defined by a valve seat, 
 wherein the nozzle adapter is configured to be at least partially disposed within the body cavity when coupled to the actuator housing, such that the lower end of the needle extends into the fluid channel, and the fastener extends through the first aperture and the second aperture such that the fastener releasably secures the nozzle adapter to the actuator housing. 
 
     
     
       20. The dispensing module of  claim 19 , further comprising at least one seal configured to be received within the seal seat of the nozzle adapter, wherein the at least one seal is configured to prevent flow of the liquid from the fluid channel of the nozzle adapter into the needle passageway of the actuator housing. 
     
     
       21. The dispensing module of  claim 19 , wherein the fastener is a first fastener, the dispensing module further defines:
 a second fastener configured to extend through a third aperture defined by the protrusion of the nozzle adapter and a fourth aperture defined by the bottom surface of the actuator housing; and 
 a third fastener configured to extend through a fifth aperture defined by the protrusion of the nozzle adapter and a sixth aperture defined by the bottom surface of the actuator housing, 
 wherein the second and third fasteners are configured to releasably secure the nozzle adapter to the actuator housing. 
 
     
     
       22. The dispensing module of  claim 19 , wherein an entirety of the first aperture is spaced from the fluid channel in the lateral direction. 
     
     
       23. The dispensing module of  claim 19 , wherein the first and second apertures are each at least partially threaded, and the fastener is a screw defining a head and a threaded shaft, such that the threaded shaft is configured to threadedly engage the first and second apertures. 
     
     
       24. The dispensing module of  claim 19 , wherein the actuator is configured to transition the needle from a first position, where the valve element contacts the valve seat such that the valve element prevents fluid flow through the fluid outlet, to a second position, where the valve element is spaced from the valve seat. 
     
     
       25. The dispensing module of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator housing defines a monolithic actuator body that defines the actuator cavity, the body cavity, and the needle passageway. 
     
     
       26. The dispensing module of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle body is monolithic. 
     
     
       27. The dispensing module of  claim 19 , wherein the actuator housing defines a monolithic actuator body that defines the actuator cavity, the body cavity, and the needle passageway. 
     
     
       28. The dispensing module of  claim 19 , wherein the nozzle body is monolithic.